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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2013 6:22:54 GMT -5
Miss Price, who teaches English at an american place, has written in to ask our advice. She poses three questions. The first is, "Was the news in August last year that Amazon.co.uk was selling more e-books than printed volumes cause for hope or despair?" Can any members help her out there? And her second question is, "Will books go the way of candles and horse-shoes - knick-knacks collected by antiquarians?" Members with knick-knacks may know that answer. And finally, "Is the end of print synonymous with the end of reading, perhaps even of civilization?" "Synonymous" - that is her word. We wonder whether the lady has much Greek . . . and whether she has consulted the Internet Text Archive: archive.org/details/texts. |
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2013 10:57:20 GMT -5
Good afternoon, Sydney Grew. I trust that all is well with you today. If I may nevertheless address all three of Miss Price's questions directly: a. Miss Price, who teaches English at an american place, has written in to ask our advice. She poses three questions. The first is, "Was the news in August last year that Amazon.co.uk was selling more e-books than printed volumes cause for hope or despair?" Can any members help her out there? Hope! A book is an application of technology, just as an e-book is an application of technology. The technology is really irrelevant. What matters, at least for Amazon, is the sale. What matters, for the reader, is the reading. Of course, I sometimes prefer to read a book rather than a screen, but it is, in my opinion, no big deal either way! b. And her second question is, "Will books go the way of candles and horse-shoes - knick-knacks collected by antiquarians?" Members with knick-knacks may know that answer. Yes! Antiquarians, including kleines c, already collect books, so books have already gone that way! c. And finally, "Is the end of print synonymous with the end of reading, perhaps even of civilization?" "Synonymous" - that is her word. We wonder whether the lady has much Greek . . . and whether she has consulted the Internet Text Archive: archive.org/details/texts. Reading started before print, so print is really irrelevant! You can always print out this screen, if you so wish, Sydney Grew. As for the end of civilisation, civilisation has been a series of rebirths. Surely this should give us confidence in ourselves! |
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